[newlydead r2] day 4 - june

[unexpectedboner]

[There's a small cafe table nicked from somewhere set up in a relatively out of the way spot behind some of the other sets, and it's there that Junpei invites Akane. As promised, he's prepared dinner (sandwiches, they're safe) and tacked up a tasteful painting of a bud vase found in the prop room ("for atmosphere"). For his part, Junpei seems just a bit tense with nervous energy, but happy enough to be here, if the smile on his face is anything to go by.]

So, um, how're you doing today? Or is that too heavy of a topic for tonight?

Comments

[unexpectedboner]

Not even Hongou, or those other guys?

[exequte]

[There's something a little hard about her for the first time.]

Do they even count as humans anymore, after everything they did? But all I ever did was bring them, I didn't... I gave Ace a chance to confess instead.

[unexpectedboner]

Even so...that's one out of four, that's not--

[He cuts himself off, takes a breath. There are an awful lot of extenuating circumstances, after all. Still.]

Is that...everyone?

[exequte]

Yes, but he was the one who killed all of the rest of them.

[She looks surprised at the question.]

W... what?

[unexpectedboner]

He was?

[Obviously someone had not paid enough attention to all the exposition? Honestly, he seems confused not only over his understanding of the situation, but about what he wants to say at all, and his tone is appropriately halting and hesitant.]

Is there anyone else involved with all the nonary stuff is what I meant. There's no one else waiting to trap people somewhere and make them do puzzles for their lives, right? Ignoring this whole McTV thing...

[He shakes his head, rephrasing again]

--I think what I'm trying to get at is, after all this, what do you want to do?

[exequte]

Of... Of course. He killed the 9th man for his bracelet, and guy X because he thought he was Snake and Snake could have been a threat, and Clover because she started to figure out what he was doing, or at least he thought she had. What? Do you think I should have actually let him kill Snake?

[SOUNDING A LITTLE UPSET NOW]

Is that what you think of me? There was something I need.... Something I'd needed to do. Afterwards. It wasn't another Nonary Game. [NOT FOR 45 YEARS OR SO ANYWAY] Do you really think I wanted to make everyone play that one?

[unexpectedboner]

N-no... I mean, I hope not? I mean...

[sighs, scrubbing at his face]

I'm not trying to argue that you shouldn't have lived, or tried to live, or whatever awful thing it might sound like I said. I don't want that at all. But I feel like everyone except me knows at least some of what I'm going on. I just...I wanna know what I'm signing up for.

[exequte]

[There is a moment of silence.]

All right. What do you want to know?

[unexpectedboner]

[He takes a few moments to consider this, mentally arguing over a couple different options before finally speaking:]

...Can you read my mind?

[exequte]

Of course I can't!

[Your face, on the other hand....]

[unexpectedboner]

But...we connected? I felt you in my head. So I didn't know if that was still happening. 'Cause I was gonna apologize.

[exequte]

That...

[She sounds a little sad.]

Remember what can affect access to the Morphogenetic Field? Danger and epiphany. I... I was about to die, when that happened.

[unexpectedboner]

Yeah, but...

...Maybe I should be apologizing either way.

[exequte]

... Why would you need to apologize, Jumpy?

[unexpectedboner]

I messed up, didn't I? I thought I fixed everything, but you still...

[shrugs helplessly]

[exequte]

... I'd wondered if you'd noticed I should be dead. I thought I was. I don't know what happened.

[unexpectedboner]

You shouldn't be! At least, not for me and the others... But for you and Santa...

--Anyway, even if it's kind of a terrible one, this is still a second chance. Uh, third chance? Either way, better than nothing.

[exequte]

It's....

[She can't really say 'it's all right,' or not truthfully.]

It was always a thing that might happen. And... And I really am glad that I got to see Jumpy one more time, before....

Besides, like you said, this is another chance. I'm trying to do my best.

[unexpectedboner]

I know. And--maybe you don't wanna hear it from me, but you're not alone. I'm here to help. And Santa. Working together this time, there's no way we'll mess it up.

[...he knocks wood, just in case]

So don't worry too much about it, alright?

[exequte]

Alright. But... don't you hate me, Jumpy?

[unexpectedboner]

...I can't agree with all your choices. But I couldn't hate you.

[exequte]

But... everything that I put everyone through... and...

[And it... hadn't worked.]

[unexpectedboner]

[He frowns, shifting as though he wants to reach out, but not making a move in the end]

It's...maybe not "okay," but definitely not something I'd hate you over. I mean, the others might have something to say about it, but that's my two cents, anyway.

[exequte]

[She moves instead, taking a hesitant step forward, one hand lifting briefly as though to reach out and dropping again immediately. She stills then, looking uncertain.]

I... I thought....

[unexpectedboner]

[He steps closer himself, then, attempting to pull her into an embrace.]